Members take cues from past groups

Jul. 11, 2005

Written by

Tania E. Lopez
tania.e.lopez@indystar.com

Gangs can be traced back to the 18th century, when a flood of European immigrants came to America. As some arrivals struggled to fit in, gangs formed along ethnic lines as one way to provide the newcomers with protection, recreation, financial gain and a sense of belonging to a group.

Right now, Indianapolis police are most concerned with three emerging Latino gangs:Sur-13

? Size: Police estimate that there are about 100 Sur-13 gang members in the Indianapolis area, copycats of a Los Angeles group. ...